Decorative carton with removable band and blank therefor

ABSTRACT

A decorative carton with a removable plastic band and carton blank therefor. The carton blank is provided with a glue flap panel attached to an endmost main body panel with the glue flap panel having a notched out portion intermediate its ends. A tab which substantially corresponds in size and location to the notched out portion in the glue flap panel is attached to the main body panel most remote from the one to which the glue flap panel is attached. This provides for nesting of adjacent blanks when the blanks are cut from strip stock material. The decorative plastic band extends transversely of the main body panels but is unattached thereto. One terminal end of the plastic band is attached to the tab and the other terminal end is attached to the glue flap panel adjacent its notched out portion. When the carton blank is assembled into an upright carton, the terminal ends of the removable plastic band are received within a longitudinal side seam of the carton.

United States Patent 91 Donahue 1 DECORATIVE CARTON WITH REMOVABLE BAND AND BLANK THEREFOR [75] Inventor: Gary M. Donahue, Richmond, Va. [73 Assignee: Reynolds Metal Company, Richmond, Va. 22 Filed: Jan. 18,1972

[21] Appl. No.: 218,800

[52] US. Cl ..229/38, 229/87 R, 40/312,

[51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/10 [58] Field of Search ..'....229/37, 38, 87 R;

l56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Rogers ...229/D1G. 9

272,327 2/1883 2,950,040 8/1960 Bolding ..229/38 3,021,994 2/1962 Wolfe .229/48 R X 3,217,960 11/1965 Davis r ..229/l4 C 3,335,937 8/1967 Kramer ..229/38 3,424,367 1/1969 Desmond et a1 ..229/38 3,534,898 10/1970 Manizza ..229/38 [451 Apr. 24, 11973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 763,168 7/1967 Canada ..40/3l2 Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Attorney-John F. C. Glenn, et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A decorative carton with a removable plastic band and carton blank therefor. The carton blank is provided with a glue flap panel attached to an endmost main body panel with the glue flap panel having a notched out portion intermediate its ends. A tab which substantially corresponds in size and location to the notched out portion in the glue flap panel is attached to the main body panel most remote from the one to which the glue flap panel is attached. This provides for nesting of adjacent blanks when the blanks are cut from strip stock material. The decorative plastic band extends transversely of the main body panels but is unattached thereto. One terminal end of the plastic bandis attached to the tab and the other terminal end is attached to the glue flap panel adjacent its notched out portion. When the carton blank is .assembled into an upright carton, the terminal ends of the removable plastic band are received within a longitudinal side seam of the carton.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 This invention relates to a decorative carton and blank therefor and, more particularly, to such a carton and blank having a plastic band secured thereto at the time of sale but which may be easily removed without marring the attractiveness of the decorative carton.

Heretofore a number of attempts have been made at providing a decorative carton with a printed plastic band which is easily removable whereby the carton may function as its own gift package. The plastic band identifies the contents of the carton and complies with labeling requirements so as to constitute a legal package. For example, the manufacturers of alcoholic beverages have found such packages to beespecially desirable. Once a customer has purchased the package, however, he desires to remove the printed plastic band and use the decorative carton itself as a gift package. In most instances the carton has a printed decorative foil exterior, such as aluminum foil, laminated to a paperboard base. The foilmay be embossed or otherwise decorated as the occasion demands to make it more attractive.

While some attempts have been made to attach the plastic band lengthwise of the carton, i.e., from the top to the bottom, it is preferred to have the plastic band extend transversely of the carton whereby it becomes possible to portray the name of the product or the manufacturer on more than one panel of the carton by using a repetitive printing pattern. This arrangement is also advantageous in displaying the carton at the point of sale.

A number of difficulties have been encountered in utilizing transversely extending removable plastic bands. One of these is that the adhesive customarily used to attach the plastic band to the carton frequently tears the surface of the carton as the band is removed thereby marring the appearance of the gift package. Some attempts have been made to hide or conceal the attachment of the plastic band within the longitudinal side seam of the carton, but this has only been accomplished with a concomitant increase in the cost of the carton. Others have attempted to utilize separate attachment tapes or lines of weakness in the plastic band itself but not with very much success in that these extra materials or operations have also increased the cost of the package.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing shortcomings and disadvantages have been effectively overcome in that a, carton structure is provided which permits the unprinted plastic band to be attached exteriorly of the main body-panels of the carton blank but which does not result in a substantial increase in the cost of the carton blank. Moreover, the terminal ends of the plastic bands are secured within the longitudinal side seam of the carton whereby the plastic band may be removed without marring the finish of the main body panels of the carton so that the carton provides its own gift package after removal of the plastic band.

Specifically, the present invention contemplates the provision of a notched out portion in a glue flap which is secured to an endmost main body panel of the carton blank and the use of a tab hingedly secured to the edge of the main body panel most remote from the one to which the glue flap is secured whereby the tab nests within the notched out portion of the glue flap on an adjacent blank when the blank is formed from strip stock material. A plastic band which is imprinted with indicia to identify the contents of the carton and which otherwise effects a compliance with labeling requirements has one terminal portion thereof adhesively attached to the tab and the other terminal portion thereof attached to the glue flap panel adjacent its notched out portion. The tab and attached end of the plastic band are then folded against the underside of the main body panel to which the tab is attached and the carton folded into a parallelpiped with the glue flap panel being adhesively secured to the underside of the main panel against which the tab is folded whereby the terminal portions of the plastic band are retained within the longitudinal side seam of the carton.

The notched out portion of the glue flap panel is relatively small in size being substantially less than half the length of the glue flap panel itself. The terminal end portions of the plastic band are received within the longitudinal side seam of the carton and the band may be easily removedfrom the carton by inserting a knife or ones fingernail between the plastic band and the carton at its longitudinal side seam to sever in succession both ends of the plastic band adjacent the terminal ends'thereof without marring the surface of the main body panels of the carton.

The inherent advantages and improvements of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon considering the following detailed description of the invention and by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the carton blank and plastic band of the present invention;

FIG.2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton blank and plastic band of FIG. 1 shown in assembled relationship;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton blank and plastic band of FIG. 1 illustrating certain steps in the formation of the completed carton;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the completely assembled carton;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary plan view taken in horizontal cross section along line 5a--5a of FIG. 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5b is a fragmentary plan view taken in horizontal cross section along line 5b-5b of FIG. 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 4 illustrating the removal of the plastic band therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. I of the drawings, there is illustrated a carton blank, indicated generally at 10. The carton blank is provided with main body panels l2, l4, l6 and 18 separated from each other by longitudinally extending fold lines in conventional manner. Similarly, carton blank 10 has bottom flap panels 20, 22, 24 and 26 attached to a respective main body panel along a transversely extending fold line with the flap panels cooperating to provide a bottom closure for the carton when it is erected. In similar fashion, top flap panels are illustrated at 28, 30 and 32, attached to main body panels 14, I6 and 18, respectively along another transversely extending fold line. Top flap panels 28, 30 and 32 cooperate to provide a top closure for the carton when it is erected. The structure described thus far is completely conventional in the art.

In the practice of the present invention, one of the main body panels such as main body panel 12 is provided with a glue flap panel 34 attached to main body panel 12 by a vertical fold line 35. The glue flap panel 34 is provided with a notched out portion indicated generally at 36. The most remote main body panel therefrom, namely main body panel 18, is provided with a tab 38 which extends exteriorly from the carton blank and is secured thereto by vertically extending fold line 39. In a preferred construction, tab 38 substantially corresponds in size and location to the notched out portion 36 of the glue flap panel 34 so as to provide nesting of carton blank with an adjacent blank when the blank is cut from strip stock material. Conventionally, the strip stock material consists of foil, such as aluminum foil, laminated to paperboard. The foil serves as a decorative outer surface and is preferably printed with one or more colors and may also be provided with one or more decorative embossments.

An elongated plastic band 40, suitably imprinted with indicia to identify the contents of the carton and the brand name or other advertising material so as to comply in all respects with legal labeling requirements, is illustrated at 40 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates one suitable means by which the plastic band 40 may be attached to carton blank 10. Specifically, carton blank 10 is provided with adhesive dots 42 on the mating face of tab 38 as well as adhesive dots at 44 on opposite sides of the notched out portion 36 of glue flap panel 34. The terminal end portions of plastic band 40 are suitably pressed against these adhesive dots 42 and 44 so that the central portion of plastic band 40 is completely unattached from the main body panels of carton blank 10.

In the assembly of the erected carton, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the tab 38 with attached terminal portion of the plastic band 40 is folded as indicated by the arrow to lie against the underside portion of main body panel 18 and as indicated in phantom. The underside portion of main body panel 18 is then folded against the glue flap 34 to which an adhesive stripe has been applied in conventional manner. The direction of folding of main body panel 18 against the glue flap panel 34 is also shown by arrows in FIG. 3. In this manner, and with the further aid of conventional folding plows or the like the top and bottom closures are effected for the carton which is shown in its fully erected and closed position in FIG. 4.

The FIG. 5a and 5b illustrations are taken in horizontal cross section through the carton in erected form and at different elevations for the plastic band 40. FIG. 5a is taken through the tab 38 and FIG. 5b is taken immediately below tab 38. These figures show that the terminal ends of the plastic band 40 which are attached to the tab 38 and glue flap panel 34 are completely enclosed within the longitudinal side seam of the carton formed by the interengagement of the underside of main body panel 18 with the glue flap panel 34. The tab 38 need not be adhesively secured to the underside of the main body panel 18 because a terminal end of plastic band 40 overlies tab 38. The fact that the tab is substantially the same size as the notched out portion 36 which is substantially less than half the length of the glue flap panel 34 helps in this respect. It is sufficient to effect nesting with an adjacent blank if the tab 38 does not exceed the size of notched out portion 36.

FIG. 6 illustrates the removal of the plastic band 40 from the carton. This may be effected by inserting a knife or ones fingernail between the plastic band 40 and the carton at its longitudinal side seam so as to sever the central portion of the plastic band from its two terminal end portions. After plastic band 40 has been removed, the terminal end portions thereof remain within the longitudinal side seam thereby providing a gift package whose surface is unmarred.

The carton is illustrated to be provided with four main body panels although obviously the invention is applicable to other forms and styles of containers. The length of the notched out portion 36 of glue flap panel 34 corresponds substantially to the width of the plastic band 40 with the width being slightly in excess whereby a satisfactory adhesive attachment to the ends of the carton may be made on opposite sides of the notched out portion 36.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A decorative carton construction comprising:

a. a carton having a plurality of main body panels secured to at least one adjacent main panel along a longitudinally extending fold line,

. a glue flap panel hingedly secured to one endmost main body panel along one edge thereof,

1. said glue flap panel having a notched out portion intermediate the ends thereof,

c. a tab hingedly secured to the main body panel which is most remote from said main body panel having said glue flap panel secured thereto,

1. said tab substantially corresponding in location to the notched out portion of said glue flap panel and not exceeding the size of said notched out portion,

. a plastic band having one terminal end attached to said tab and having its other terminal end attached to said glue flap panel adjacent the notched out portion thereof,

e. said tab and attached end of said plastic band being folded against the underside of said main body panel to which said tab is hingedly secured,

f. said carton being folded into erected form with said glue flap being adhesively secured to the underside of said main panel to which said tab is attached whereby the terminal portions of said plastic band are retained within the side seam of said carton.

2. The decorative carton construction of claim 1 wherein said notched out portion of said glue flap panel extends for a length substantially less than half the length of said glue flap panel.

3. The decorative carton construction of claim 1 wherein said carton is provided with four main panels so as to form a rectangular parallelpiped having a longitudinal side seam and said plastic band extends transversely around said parallelpiped completely unattached thereto except for the terminal ends thereof which are received within said longitudinal side seam.

4. A carton blank construction for a decorative carton having a plastic band readily removable therefrom, said carton blank comprising:

a. a plurality of main body panels secured to at least one other main panel along a longitudinal fold line,

b. end flap panels hingedly secured to said main panels so as to provide top and bottom closure members,

0. a glue flap panel hingedly secured to an endmost main body panel,

1. said glue flap panel having a notched out portion intermediate the ends thereof,

(1. a tab hingedly secured to a main body panel which is most remote from said main body panel having said glue flap panel secured thereto,

1. said tab being so positioned and of such a size to 10 said notched out portion of said glue flap panel extends for a length substantially less than half the length of said glue flap panel. 

1. A decorative carton construction comprising: a. a carton having a plurality of main body panels secured to at least one adjacent main panel along a longitudinally extending fold line, b. a glue flap panel hingedly secured to one endmost main body panel along one edge thereof,
 1. said glue flap panel having a notched out portion intermediate the ends thereof, c. a tab hingedly secured to the main body panel which is most remote from said main body panel having said glue flap panel secured thereto,
 1. said tab substantially corresponding in location to the notched out portion of said glue flap panel and not exceeding the size of said notched out portion, d. a plastic band having one terminal end attached to said tab and having its other terminal end attached to said glue flap panel adjacent the notched out portion thereof, e. said tab and attached end of said plastic band being folded against the underside of said main body panel to which said tab is hingedly secured, f. said carton being folded into erected form with said glue flap being adhesively secured to the underside of said main panel to which said tab is attached whereby the terminal portions of said plastic band are retained within the side seam of said carton.
 2. The decorative carton construction of claim 1 wherein said notched out portion of said glue flap panel extends for a length substantially less than half the length of said glue flap panel.
 3. The decorative carton construction of claim 1 wherein said carton is provided with four main panels so as to form a rectangular parallelpiped having a longitudinal side seam and said plastic band extends transversely around said parallelpiped completely unattached thereto except for the terminal ends thereof which are received within said longitudinal side seam.
 4. A carton blank construction for a decorative carton having a plastic band readily removable therefrom, said carton blank comprising: a. a plurality of main body panels secured to at least one other main panel along a longitudinal fold line, b. end flap panels hingedly secured to said main panels so as to provide top and bottom closure members, c. a glue flap panel hingedly secured to an endmost main body panel,
 5. The carton blank construction of claim 4 wherein said notched out portion of said glue flap panel extends for a length substantially less than half the length of said glue flap panel. 